A Reaper at the Gates (Ember Quartet, Book 3)

How do I convey the beautifully succinct writing by the venerable Mrs. Sabaa Tahir without gushing incoherently?!? I'll try my best... here goes... If you haven't already started this series I HIGHLY recommend you do so immediately. It is an affirmation of Hope and ceaseless Possibility in the face of dire, desperate circumstances... a theme that is extremely poignant due to the chaotic/ uncertain times we currently live in. From the very start we are dropped off right into the chaos where A Torch Against the Night left off. The pacing was perfect. There were twists and betrayals and bloodshed... Oh My!! The characters were rich and nuanced. They felt like old friends/nemesis you have grown to love and love to hate. They were crafted magnificently. True to the dichotomy of real life personas, each one was depicted as varying shades of grey. I loathe characters that are drawn either purely White or starkly Black... BRING ON THE GRADIENTS BABY!!! Mrs. Tahir manages to make you feel empathy and compassion for the antagonists (after seeing what lead them down the path toward hatred and wickedness). I felt conflicted (as I'm sure you will see) as to who was the "victim" and who the evildoers...for all had claim to both... and really, isn't that the mark of a well written, truly visceral hero/villain?? The multiple POVs worked. They played off of the next person's arc so skillfully that I was saddened each time a chapter came to an end. Elias's role, on the other hand, felt like fodder... or the sticky icky pie filler that could have easily been left out (if not for his usefulness in the last quarter of the book). It felt like he was used as a means to move things along in places that needed a quick plot progression That was a little sad since he was, and should continue to be, an integral player...imho. This installment was multifaceted. It boasted nefarious jinn, mischiviously violent ghosts, seers/Augurs, a smattering of warlocks, a tiny dallop of romance, twisty reveals and LOADS of bloody vengeance. What else can you possibly want in a book?? It's a gritty book in a heart wrenching series and I love every single word of it!! I will continue to shout its praise from the mountaintops.... mountaintops I say and I truly, deeply, infatically believe you will too. Go ahead, prove me wrong, I'd love to read all about it. ~Enjoy

After what was almost a two year wait I finally, finally read Sabaa Tahir's A Reaper at the Gates that continues the story of Laia, Helene, and Elias that left us pretty much hanging at the end of A Torch Against the Night! The wait was well worth it indeed, though sadly, even with recaps and my own notes, I still couldn't quite remember everything. But that's a problem I've become use to, lol! Helene is intent on helping Markus kill Keris, for she wants to protect her sister, Livia more than anything. From both Keris and Livia's own husband, Markus. But it doesn't simply due to murder Keris, she has to get the people who support her to see her for what she truly is. Her first step in doing that is to find Elias, who everyone believes dead but Helene knows he's not. If she can prove he's alive that's one step in showing how incompetent Keri is. Elias is struggling to adapt to his new Soul Catcher status, Shaeva is trying to teach him what she can, but he's wanting to be back with Laia more than anything else. Meanwhile we have Laia trying to do what she can to help the Scholars and also stop the Nightbringer from freeing the jinn. Laia is still reeling from the betrayal that was Keenan, but she moves past her old feelings remarkably well. Though the anger of said betrayal is still there. I'll admit that things were pretty intense and slightly chaotic in this one. It took me a good couple of days to read it and throughout I was doing what I could to remember the past book which honestly, I need to work on not doing. There's no time for re-reading anymore, especially books of this length and quality. But as I was reading I was still able to follow the story along well enough, it's just trying to remember people other than our three narrators that made things slightly difficult. I think the one thing that upset me about this book was the fact that our main characters had very little interaction with each other this time around. There were moments here and there when two of them were together in some way. But I miss that togetherness that Elias and Laia had in the previous two. Yes, they weren't always together back then but there were still enough moments of them being there together that helped keep me engage. This time it almost felt like we were reading three different stories going on with each of the characters because of that lack of interaction. I'm not saying that I didn't enjoy the book, because I did! I really, really liked this one, I just wish the characters could've been together more. I have a feeling though that might happen in the next and final book, so I am eager for that one to release! Hopefully the wait for that one won't be as long. Since the characters weren't together all that much, there wasn't much time for romance. Happily though, I will say there are a few stolen kisses in a place or two in the novel. I've become a sap now. I need to have just a little, tiny bit of romance in my novels now. I can't help it. It's become a sickness! Lol! It was sad that there weren't more, but there were some, so that's better than none I suppose. My heart aches for Laia and Elias' situation though. I feel like in this one, our three favorites all undergo a transformation of sorts. They all change, whether it will be for the better or not will remain to be seen in the next book. I feel like we're at a good place for 2/3 the characters, the third remains unclear and heart-wrenching because of it. The pacing was spot on in this one! There's a great deal of buildup and delivery to the events that are happening. It's hard to really get into detail about it because I don't want to lean towards spoiler territory, but I can say that the characters moved forward quite a bit. Of course there were the obstacles that were constantly tossing them back, but it made for great storytelling. There were some surprises along the way with this one as well. There was one that I can't say if I saw coming or not. It's possible. I think it was even thought upon at one point but it's been so long I can't remember if it's true! Lol! I'm eager to see what will happen in this final book to come! There was a great deal of action happening at the end of the novel that had me in a tailspin wondering what this will mean for the next step in the journey. I wouldn't really say it ended with a massive cliffhanger. I've been seeing people agonizing over it and wanting the final book asap. I'm thinking it was more just for the love of the story than anything detrimental. Yes, things were happening quickly and we get a startling revelation at the end, but it's not a cliffhanger that had me screaming in agony. So that tells you while the wait for the final book will be long and painful, I won't be slowly dying and feeling as if my soul were being crushed day by day, piece by piece. Just your average agonizing wait for the next installment in a series! Lol! A Reaper at the Gates was a read well worth the wait! It was as exciting and splendid as expected! The rich culture and exotic environment Sabaa has created is only the start of the appeal to this magnificent series! It's been quite the trip and I cannot wait to see how it will all come to an end! I can only hope that Sabaa won't crush my soul in the end! Overall Rating 4.5/5 stars

I kind of took a break from this series for a few months (the problems of being a mood reader...) but after this book, I was wholly re-invested in the characters and world! So much happened in this book; the pacing never felt slow, and the stakes kept getting higher and higher. Our characters were dealing with problems that affected all of humanity along with the trials of their personal lives. Helene remained my favorite POV of the three, but all their arcs continued to go in interesting directions. The antagonists were frightening in their competence. When I finished, I wasn't sure how everything would be resolved in the final book. There were so many mysteries and questions left. I was absolutely ready to jump into book four at the end! I recommend this epic YA fantasy series to readers looking for a tense, action-packed plot, characters facing impossible decisions, and a world in peril. Content: Romance - one passionate/descriptive almost love scene that gets interrupted; kissing; mentions of brothels Foul Language - mild swearing Violence - bloody war violence, torture, death; ghost possession and supernatural violence; one childbirth scene

"One piece remains, and beware the Reaper at the Gates! The sparrows will drown, and none will know it. The past shall burn, and none will slow it. The Dead will rise, and none can survive. The Child will be bathed in blood but alive. The Pearl will crack, the cold will enter. The Butcher will break, and none will hold her. The Ghost will fall, her flesh will wither. By the Grain Moon, the King will have his answer. By the Grain Moon, the forgotten will find their master." I have never needed a support system to read a book till this one . There has not been a book that makes you love its characters more, and this trio face everything from being at the brink of death and holding on by a thread..they keep each other alive. Helen Aquilla truly became a true leader in this book , a true force to be reckoned with , and chapter 55 ..I know if I ever get to meet this author ..i will immediately burst into tears for what Helen the Blood Shrike went through. ..in saving her family saving their people. I love Asian mythology and the Waiting Place is possibly the best written portrayal of that space in time where a soul is moving on. KDrama Reapers move among the living just the same as Elias does., and his lonliness is palpable in this book. Laia became even stronger in her quest to hold off the Nighbringer , but she in the end couldnt stop him . That scene between the Blood Shrike and the Nightbringer will go down as one of the most cinematic scenes for me of all time ..bloody brilliant writing I will be sad to finish this series.

It was good, but there’s no way i would put in any Best of All Time list. MANY writers, from Heinlein to Orson Scott Card, to Anne McCaffrey, to Matt Dinniman (just to name a very few) are much better. 3.5 stars.

The third installment of the Ember in the Ashes series leaves you feeling anxious, mad, broken, and just a pinch of hope. This is an epic saga that is clothed in intrigue, mystery, violence, and passion. Sabaa's writing is intense and it grabs your attention fiercely. Elias is having a hard time trying to be the Soul Catcher, while Laia is being haunted by The Nightbringer, and Helene (whom I have close to my heart) is being abused by the Commandmant and the Empire she fiercely tries to rescue. That girl cannot take a break! Plus, there were scenes where I had to take a break because Laia's recklessness sometimes pissed me off as well as Elias's stubbornness. Overall, is not a bad book. It continues to deliver a great storyline, great writing, amazing character development, and world-building, and I love how it's shown: with the perspectives of the main characters

So many different story lines and little surprises. So well written. I Can’t wait to see how it is going to end!

Sitting here trying to think of thoughtful and meaningful words for a review and none come to me! I am so deep into this series, it's consuming my days! If I'm not at work I'm reading, any other adulting is getting put aside! Hands down amazing series! Yes it's full of heartbreak and seemingly endless torture, but I know there is light at the end of it!

Love the story and can't wait for the next book. Suspenseful and well written. Love the author. She is amazing

Couldn't put it down. A must read! Now, the dreaded wait for the last instalment. I really need closure, my hearts sore after reading this :,(

Don’t buy it it’s not a hardcover I have returned and asked for a replacement and they brought papeback again

No terceiro livro da série, Sabaa Tahir desenvolve a trama com maestria, oferecendo uma história recheada de conflitos, reviravoltas e um toque de romance. Cada um dos três personagens principais tem seus próprios dilemas a enfrentar. Acompanhamos suas vitórias, derrotas e conflitos internos num mundo onde um fio de esperança encara um mar de desespero. Em alguns momentos a ação diminuí, mas o enredo permanece cativante. Quem gostou dos volumes anteriores provavelmente vai se empolgar com esse livro também.

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